Hook Device

ABSTRACT

A hook device for mounting on a wall surface includes a base unit and a hooking unit. The base unit has a glue-receiving recess that opens rearwardly, a rear end face that surrounds the glue-receiving recess and that is adapted to be adhered onto the wall surface, and an inlet in spatial communication with the glue-receiving recess for introducing glue to fill the glue-receiving recess after the rear end face is adhered onto the wall surface. The hooking unit includes a mounting seat connected to the base unit, and a hooking rod disposed on the mounting seat.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a hook device, more particularly to a hook device that can cooperate with glue for adhering onto a wall surface.

2. Description of the Related Art

A suction cup hook device or an adhesive tape hook device provides a convenient way to hang an object. However, the former has some drawbacks such as aging of a suction cup thereof, quality that deteriorates over time, non-uniform suction forces, and soon. On the other hand, an adhesive tape of the latter often loses its ability to adhere due to environmental factors such as humidity. Therefore, both of the suction cup hook device and the adhesive tape hook device face some problems like easy detachment, low loading supportability, short service lifetime, etc.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a hook device that can cooperate with glue for adhering onto a wall surface.

Accordingly, a hook device of the present invention is adapted for mounting on a wall surface. The hook device comprises a base unit and a hooking unit. The base unit has a glue-receiving recess that opens rearwardly, a rear end face that surrounds the glue-receiving recess and that is adapted to be adhered onto the wall surface, and an inlet in spatial communication with the glue-receiving recess for introducing glue to fill the glue-receiving recess after the rear end face is adhered onto the wall surface. The hooking unit includes a mounting seat connected to the base unit, and a hooking rod disposed on the mounting seat.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a hook device according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded front perspective view of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an exploded rear perspective view of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view of the preferred embodiment to illustrate how a base unit is mounted on a wall surface with the use of glue;

FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view of the preferred embodiment to illustrate a hooking unit connected to the base unit and a hooking rod of the hooking unit at a hooking position; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, but illustrating the hooking rod at a non-hooking position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, a preferred embodiment of a hook device of the present invention is adapted for mounting on a wall surface 200. The hook device comprises a base unit 3, a hooking unit 4, and a hollow connector 5.

The base unit 3 includes a base plate 31 and a looped adhering member 32 adhered to a rear side of the base plate 31. The base plate 31 and the adhering member 32 cooperate to define a glue-receiving recess 30 that opens rearwardly. The base plate 31 is provided with an inlet 312, an outlet 313 below the inlet 312, and a male coupling member 317 and a rib 318 disposed on a front side of the base plate 31 between the inlet 312 and the outlet 313. The adhering member 32 has a rear end face 321 that surrounds the glue-receiving recess 30 and that is adapted to be adhered onto the wall surface 200. The inlet 312 is in spatial communication with the glue-receiving recess 30 for introducing glue 102 to fill the glue-receiving recess 30 after the rear end face 321 is adhered onto the wall surface 200. The inlet 312 has a periphery that defines a hole 301 and that is formed with two diametrically opposite radial inward stop flanges 316 extending into the hole 301. The size of the outlet 313 is smaller than that of the inlet 312. The rib 318 is located above the male coupling member 317 and is horizontally extending on the front side of the base plate 31. The rear side of the base plate 31 maybe provided with indentations 314, which are arranged in pairs and are vertically spaced apart from each other, as well as a looped end face 315 surrounding the indentations 314 and on which a front end face 320 of the adhering member 32 is adhered. In this embodiment, the adhering member 32 is a double-sided foam tape made from an air permeable foam material. However, it is not limited thereto in other embodiments of the invention.

With further reference to FIG. 5, the hooking unit 4 includes a mounting seat 41 connected to the base plate 31 of the base unit 3, and a hooking rod 42 connected pivotally to a front side of the mounting seat 41. The front side of the mounting seat 41 is provided with a first magnetic component 43, and the hooking rod 42 is provided with a second magnetic component 44 for attracting magnetically with the first magnetic component 43. The mounting seat 41 has a covering portion 411 for covering the base plate 31, and a female coupling member 414 that is provided on a rear side of the covering portion 411 and that defines a vertically extending hole 415. The male and female coupling members 317, 414 constitute a coupling unit and are coupled removably to each other by extending the male coupling member 317 upwardly into the hole 415 in the female coupling member 414 to connect detachably the mounting seat 41 to the base plate 31. The female coupling member 414 is formed with a rib-engaging groove 416 to engage releasably the rib 318 when the mounting seat 41 is connected to the base plate 31. The front side of the covering portion 411 is formed with a pivot slot 413, which extends in a left-right direction.

The hooking rod 42 has a rod portion 422 and a pivot axle portion 421 connected to a bottom end of the rod portion 422 and retained rotatably in the pivot slot 413 such that the rod portion 422 is pivotable upwardly and downwardly between a non-hooking position (see FIG. 6) adjacent to the front side of the mounting seat 41 and a hooking position (see FIG. 5) remote from the front side of the mounting seat 41. The hooking rod 42 further has a limiting portion 423 that extends from the bottom end of the rod portion 422 and that is disposed to abut against the front side of the mounting seat 41 to limit further pivoting movement of the hooking rod 42 when the rod portion 422 is pivoted from the non-hooking position to the hooking position, as best shown in FIG. 5.By virtue of the first and second magnetic components 43, 44, the rod portion can be retained releasably at the non-hooking position.

The connector 5 includes a plate-connecting section 51 inserted removably into the inlet 312, and a tube-coupling section 52 connected to the plate-connecting section 51. The plate-connecting section 51 has a tubular part 511 that is extended rotatably into the hole 301 and that is formed with two diametrically opposite radial outward stop projections 512 disposed to abut respectively against rear sides of the stop flanges 316 when the tubular part 511 is rotated relative to the inlet 312 to bring the stop projections 512 and the stop flanges 316 into alignment in a front-rear direction, as best shown in FIG. 4. A distance between radial outer edges of the stop projections 512 is larger than a distance between radial inner edges of the stop flanges 316, but smaller than a diameter of the hole 301. The tube-coupling section 52 flares forwardly, and is formed with an internal screw thread 521 for coupling threadedly with a dispensing end 101 of a glue tube 100.

Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, to use the hook device, the base plate 31 is first adhered onto the wall surface 200 through the adhering member 32 such that the glue-receiving recess 30 can be closed by the wall surface 200. Next, the plate-connecting section 51 of the connector 5 is inserted into the inlet 312, and the tube-coupling section 52 is rotated relative to the base plate 31, such that the stop projections 512 abut against rear sides of the stop flanges 316. The connector 5 is mounted on the base plate 31 in spatial communication with the glue-receiving recess 30 at this time.

Then, the dispensing end 101 of a glue tube 100 is threadedly coupled with the tube-coupling section 52. Glue 102 is squeezed out of the glue tube 100 and is introduced into the glue-receiving recess 30 via the plate-connecting section 51. The glue 102 fills the glue-receiving recess 30 from top to bottom until the glue 102 flows out of the outlet 313. Thereafter, the connector 5 is removed from the base plate 31. The base plate 31 is mounted fixedly on the wall surface 200 once the glue 102 in the glue-receiving recess 30 has solidified.

After fixing the base plate 31 onto the wall surface 200, the covering portion 411 of the mounting seat 41 is disposed to cover the base plate 31, and the male coupling member 317 is extended upwardly into the hole 415 in the female coupling member 414 by moving the mounting seat 41 downwardly relative to the base plate 31 until the rib 318 of the base plate 31 engages the rib-engaging groove 416 of the female coupling member 414. At this time, the female coupling member 414 is retained between the base plate 31 and the male coupling member 317, thus connecting detachably and securely the mounting seat 41 to the base plate 31.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, when it is desired to hang an object on the hook device, the hooking rod 42 is pivoted downward relative to the mounting seat 41. The limiting portion 423 of the hooking rod 42 is disposed to abut against the front side of the mounting seat 41 such that further downward pivoting movement of the hooking rod 42 is limited when the rod portion 422 is at the hooking position. The object (not shown) can be hung on the rod portion 422 at this time. After use, the hooking rod 42 is pivoted upward relative to the mounting seat 41. By virtue of the magnetic attraction between the first magnetic component 43 and the second magnetic component 44, the rod portion 422 of the hooking rod 42 can be retained releasably at the non-hooking position.

In other embodiments, the magnetic components 43, 44 may be omitted, and friction between the pivot axle portion 421 and the mounting seat 41 may be relied upon to position the rod portion 422 at the non-hooking position. In practice, the hooking rod 42 may be fixed rather than pivoted to the mounting seat 41.

In addition, in this embodiment, the looped adhering member 32 and the base plate 31 cooperate to define the glue-receiving recess 30. The looped adhering member 32 is made from an air permeable foam material, which can reduce the time required for solidification of the glue 102 in the glue-receiving recess 30. However, the present invention is not limited in this respect. The glue-receiving recess 30 may be formed directly in the rear side of the base plate 31, and the looped adhering member 32 may be a thin double-sided adhesive tape material, which surrounds the glue-receiving recess 30 and is adhered onto the rear side of the base plate 31. By filling the glue-receiving recess 30 with glue 102, the base plate 31 can still be mounted onto the wall surface 200. Furthermore, the indentations 314 in the rear side of the base plate 31 are to enhance the connection strength between the solidified glue 102 and the base plate 31, and may be omitted in other embodiments of the invention.

In sum, by filling the glue-receiving recess 30 of the base unit 3 with glue 102, the hook device can be fixed onto the wall surface 200, which can enhance the loading supportability for an object. The connector 5 is removably mounted on the base plate 31, and the structure of the connector 5 can not only facilitate introduction of glue 102 into the glue-receiving recess 30 but can also prevent the glue 102 from spilling out. The hooking unit 4 is removable, and permits replacement with another hooking unit 4 having a different size or a different form.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements. 

1. A hook device adapted for mounting on a wall surface, the hook device comprising: a base unit having a glue-receiving recess that opens rearwardly, a rear end face that surrounds the glue-receiving recess and that is adapted to be adhered onto the wall surface, and an inlet in spatial communication with the glue-receiving recess for introducing glue to fill the glue-receiving recess after the rear end face is adhered onto the wall surface; and a hooking unit including a mounting seat connected to the base unit, and a hooking rod disposed on the mounting seat.
 2. The hook device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base unit includes a base plate and a looped adhering member adhered to a rear side of the base plate such that the base plate and the adhering member cooperate to define the glue-receiving recess, the adhering member having the rear end face of the base unit, the inlet being formed in the base plate.
 3. The hook device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the mounting seat is connected detachably to the base plate.
 4. The hook device as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a hollow connector connected removably to the base plate at the inlet and adapted for coupling with one end of a glue tube to permit flow of glue in the glue tube into the glue-receiving recess via the connector and the inlet.
 5. The hook device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the connector includes a plate-connecting section inserted removably into the inlet, and a tube-coupling section connected to the plate-connecting section and adapted to couple threadedly with the glue tube.
 6. The hook device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the inlet has a periphery that defines a hole and that is formed with at least one radial inward stop flange extending into the hole, and the plate-connecting section has a tubular part that is extended rotatably into the hole and that is formed with a radial outward stop projection disposed to abut against a rear side of the stop flange when the tubular part is rotated relative to the inlet to bring the stop projection and the stop flange into alignment in a front-rear direction.
 7. The hook device as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a coupling unit including a male coupling member provided on one of a front side of the base plate and a rear side of the mounting seat, and a female coupling member provided on the other of the front side of the base plate and the rear side of the mounting seat, the male and female coupling members being coupled removably to each other to connect detachably the mounting seat to the base plate.
 8. The hook device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the male coupling member extends upwardly into the female coupling member to connect the mounting seat to the base plate.
 9. The hook device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the male coupling member is provided on the front side of the base plate, the female coupling member is provided on the rear side of the mounting seat, the front side of the base plate is formed with a rib, and the female coupling member is formed with a rib-engaging groove to engage releasably the rib when the mounting seat is connected to the base plate.
 10. The hook device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hooking rod is connected pivotally to a front side of the mounting seat.
 11. The hook device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the front side of the mounting seat is formed with a pivot slot that extends in a left-right direction, and the hooking rod has a rod portion and a pivot axle portion connected to a bottom end of the rod portion and retained rotatably in the pivot slot such that the rod portion is pivotable between a non-hooking position adjacent to the front side of the mounting seat and a hooking position remote from the front side of the mounting seat, the hooking rod further having a limiting portion that extends from the bottom end of the rod portion and that is disposed to abut against the front side of the mounting seat to limit further pivoting movement of the hooking rod when the rod portion is pivoted from the non-hooking position to the hooking position.
 12. The hook device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the front side of the mounting seat is provided with a first magnetic component, and the rod portion is provided with a second magnetic component for attracting magnetically with the first magnetic component to retain releasably the rod portion at the non-hooking position.
 13. The hook device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the looped adhering member is made from an air permeable foam material. 